I used to collect tickets for the summer matinees at the Lincoln from 1948-50. Mr. Harmon was the manager. My grandfather had the candy store connected to the theater when it was the Roosevelt in the early 40,s.

Joseph Shea’s intention to build a movie theater on Broad Street in Valley Falls was announced in the April 10, 1915, issue of The New York Clipper. The plans were by Providence architect John F. O'Malley, who later designed the Leroy Theatre in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Operators of various theatres in the Pawtucket-Lincoln-Valley Falls area in 1951, gave their opinions on ways to combat the effects of TV on their theatres. Written as a report for the Pawtucket Times, the results were also reported in Boxoffice magazine in the issue of January 27, 1951:View link

“The Lincoln Theatre building in Valley Falls has been sold by the PHC Company of Pawtucket to Robert W. Jalbert of North Providence. The structure, a showplace in the lower Cumberland Valley community when it was built 40 years ago, was sold for $19,000.”

The co-hit is advertised as “Willed for Ransom,” which is a mistake. What they meant was World for Ransom, which was directed (uncredited) by Cranston-born director Robert Aldrich of later What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? & The Longest Yard fame.

Gerald, these two gents live at the Forand Manor on Washington St. in Central Falls. My mother plays cards there every Saturday with Stanley. They had a Bazaar today and that is how I was able to talk with them. However, I could only speak with them for about 10 minutes due to the social setting of the Bazaar. I may set it up to talk some more with these two wonderful, alert gentlemen. They were as excited to talk about their youth as I was to listen.

A treasure trove. Sound like great old gentlemen. You must still mean the Imperial across from the Leroy, though.
Webmaster, alternate names for this theatre are now confirmed as Shea Theater and Roosevelt Theater.

I just returned from the Cumberland Public Library and I came across an interesting tidbit.

In a 1919 Pawtucket City Directory, there is a section at the back of the book titled ‘out of towners’ advertisement.

Lo and behold, there is a Strand Theater listed. No address but states the corner of Broad and Chambers street. That is the exact location of the present day Sovereign Bank where my mother saw movies at the Roosevelt.

Here’s another interesting note. There is a John St. Theater listed at 72 John Street.

John Street is one street parallel to Chambers and also deposits onto Broad St. I drove by the locale and it appears to be property that was once a vacant lot and bought by the house adjacent.

Anyone have any info on this particular theater listed in a 1919 City Directory?

The Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 list a Roosevelt Theatre with 600 seats for Valley Falls. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the listing gives a Lincoln Theatre with 590 seats. Obviously the same theatre and looks like the only theatre in town. No address is given.